Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Radin.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My story is defined by a determined personality and being encouraged to blaze my own path. My parents supported early piano lessons, choir, symphonies, a brief stint on trumpet, loud guitars, musical theater, and a love-hate relationship with the cello. I’ve always considered myself primarily a cellist and singer, and now, a producer.
In college in Pittsburgh, I played in a folk band called Ferdinand the Bull. Nick in FTB was the first one who encouraged me to play cello in a non-classical setting. I’d only played in settings like symphonies and string quartets, and it was terrifying to not have sheet music at first. The trial-by-fire with rock n roll cello laid the foundation for everything I’ve done since then.
I moved to Austin in 2015 after school, and fell into a talented circle of singer-songwriters in Texas, much to the credit of House Wine’s open mic, the Jewish community, and the internet. It feels like we’ve played literally everywhere – wine bar residencies, house parties, SXSW, funeral homes, and 4-hour cover band gigs til 2 am on Dirty 6th. I enjoy grinding – I’ll play as much as possible.
Today, the lion’s share of my work is freelance cello, which I love. Contributing to other artists’ visions is incredibly rewarding, and varies immensely from project to project. I’ve found a solid niche for my cello style accompanying singer-songwriters for live gigs and also collaborating as a session cellist via the internet. For example this week, I had three local gigs, wrote and recorded a song for a web series out of Chicago, and did a cello track for a composer in Russia.
The thing I’m most excited for is my original music project, Iron String. I’ve got a growing catalog of around 80 songs that I’m working toward releasing. The music is a singer-songwriter vibe with electric cello, synths, and electronic elements – think Ed Sheeran meets Bon Iver. The debut EP is a collection of songs I wrote while seeing a girl on-and-off over two years. We’ve all got a story where things just didn’t shake out favorably – writing this album is my attempt at making sense of it. I’m aiming for a March release date.
Has it been a smooth road?
The challenges are many and frequent. As a musician, learning how to play by ear was really time-intensive. Finding the right people to play with means being burned a time or two, just like relationships. Then, imagine trying to get booked to play shows in the Live Music Capital of the World, where everyone and their mother has a band and is fighting for the same time slots at the same bars. It can be a scrape to get by here as a working musician. And I don’t talk about it much, but depression has a vice grip on a lot of my days.
It also helps to know you’re NEVER alone in your struggles. Sometimes, people come up to me after gigs to talk about a song or a story I told during my set. You’d be shocked at how complete strangers are willing to pour their hearts out when they connect with your art. It’s anywhere from a “thank you” as I’m packing up, exchanging new music recs and becoming Facebook friends, or a conversation about divorce until the bar closes, but these are hands-down the most rewarding moments of being a songwriter. That’s the power of music, and something I can’t believe I tried to walk away from.
Tell us about your business/company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
If you’re a singer-songwriter, you need a way to stand out, plain and simple. EVERYONE sings EVERYONE plays guitar, EVERYONE can tighten up their arrangements. That’s where I’ve made my name – helping artists differentiate themselves, reworking arrangements so good songs become fantastic songs, and spice up live shows to be more than “just another singer with an acoustic guitar.” When people see a cello next to a songwriter playing a live show, I guarantee you’ll get more interest from the audience, give away more business cards, sell more albums and t-shirts, and see a much fatter tip jar.
There are far better-practiced cellists out in the world, but my style is unmatched. It’s how I can genre-hop, improvise like a lead guitarist, and sightread in the studio. The rawness and writing background is why I’ve retained a 100% success rate of musicians happy with the result, and that speaks for itself.
In addition to the musical side, I bring business experience to the artists I work with. I’ve studied the industry extensively, have a firm grasp on social media, and know exactly what it takes for independent artists to make a living wage. It’s about making great art, and then knowing how to get it in the hands of the people that will appreciate it the most. If you’re willing to hustle, I’ll help you make it happen.
Do you feel like our city is a good place for businesses like yours? If someone was just starting out, would you recommend them starting out here? If not, what can our city to do improve?
When I first moved to the Live Music Capital of the World, a musician mentor advised that Austin isn’t the place to “make it” as a musician. In his view, it’s far too saturated with musicians, most gigs don’t pay well, and there isn’t the industry presence of the other big music cities. What it IS the place for, though, is starting your musical career- learning stamina and how to be engaging in live shows, becoming virtuosic-level at your instrument, and meeting other talented musicians. If you then decide you want to toss the dice in LA or Nashville to land a label, you’ve laid the perfect groundwork in Austin first. Everything he’s told me still holds up, and I’ve absolutely loved my journey here.
Austin provides so many opportunities for musicians who are down to hustle. You can play any night of the week, you can meet other musicians easily (who are also constantly moving here), and the way of life is really, really good here as we all know. Musicians have every opportunity to grow and develop should they choose that route. The biggest addition I think the community would benefit from is visibility of the house show circuit. There are some sick places around town that nobody knows about, and amazing hosts at said venues and homes.
I’ve got another 3-5 years before I can think about what’s on the horizon. NYC, LA or Nashville still may be my next move, but I’ll be here in Austin for the foreseeable future. Let’s hang out a lot between now and then.
Pricing:
- $100/recorded cello track
- $200/hr special events (weddings, cocktail hours, corporate events)
- Live performances and other production work: rates vary
Contact Info:
- Website: www.danradinmusic.com
- Phone: (412) 254-4414
- Email: radind5@gmail.com
- Instagram: @itsdanradin
Image Credit:
Bill Mullarky, Jerri Starbuck, Jonathan Stockdale, Alyssa Sinclair and Claire Valera
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
